Israel Minister of Culture Threatens to Cut Funding for National Film Awards
The Israel Minister of Culture, Miki Zohar, has threatened to cut the country’s funding for the National Film Awards after a film about a 12-year-old Palestinian boy won the top award. The film, "The Sea," tells the story of a boy from the occupied West Bank who wants to travel to Tel Aviv to see the sea for the first time.
The Film’s Victory and Controversy
"The Sea" won the best film award at the Ophir Awards, Israel’s equivalent of the Oscars. The film’s victory has sparked controversy, with Zohar describing the Ophir awards as "embarrassing and distant." He also stated that Israeli citizens should not have to pay for a ceremony that "spits on the faces of our heroic soldiers."
The Film’s Story and Message
The film follows the story of Khaled, a 12-year-old Palestinian boy who is denied entry into Israel at a checkpoint during a class trip to Tel Aviv. Khaled then sneaks into Israel and tries to reach the sea, while his father, an undocumented worker in Israel, tries to find him. The film’s producer, Baher Agbariya, said that "the right of a child to live in peace is a fundamental right that we will not give up."
Reaction to the Minister’s Threats
Assaf Amir, Chairman of the Israeli Academy of Film and Television, replied to Zohar’s comments, saying that the ability to see the "other" side gives little hope in times of war. Amir added that the selection of "The Sea" is a powerful reaction to the attacks on Israeli cinema and culture, as well as calls from parts of the international film community to boycott Israel.
The Ongoing Conflict in Gaza
The controversy surrounding the film comes amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which started in October 2023. Israel launched a war in Gaza in response to an attack on South Israel led by Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages. Since then, at least 65,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks, almost half of them women and children, according to the Hamas-led Ministry of Health in Gaza.
International Reaction and Investigation
A UN examination committee recently stated that Israel has committed atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the report, condemning it as "distorted and wrong." The international community has also been critical of Israel’s actions, with thousands of experts from the Hollywood industry signing a pledge to not work with Israeli film institutions that are "involved in genocide."
